Wrestlers fall short in comeback bid
By Staff reports
Tue Dec 16, 2008, 05:10 PM EST

 SUDBURY - The Lincoln-Sudbury wrestling team got off to a slow start on Friday night falling behind 36-0 before storming back to bring the score within three, at 36-33, with one match left against Arlington, a new addition to the Dual County League this year.
Although the Warriors fell short in their opening match, coach Brian Quinn saw a lot of positives. ``We battled back strong,' said Quinn. ``Our strength this year lies in our middle weights, and they justified that statement by rallying us from a 36-point deficit to within three of the lead. We have a lot of first-year guys in our lineup right now and they're going to take their lumps for a bit. I'm confident that by midseason they'll have adjusted to the demands of varsity wrestling and they will all be solid contributors to the success of our team.'
Making their first varsity appearance for the Warriors on Friday night were freshman 103 Joe Gruber, junior 160 Mohan Singh, freshman 171 Paul Tocci, and sophomore 215 Dan Connaughton.
To help the comeback attempt, the Warriors got convincing wins from sophomores Eric Davis at 112, Nick Murphy at 119, Marc Pace at 130, Jordan Syatt at 125, Jeff Iuliano at 140, David Garelik at 145 and junior Trevor MacKinnon at 135.
In the match against Newton South, senior captain Jeremy Lasky's pin at the 5:37 mark of his 152-pound match clinched the Warriors win over the Lions in the second to last match of the evening, to conclude the tri-meet.
On the night, the Warriors had a quartet of wrestlers winning both of their matches. They were sophomore Nick Murphy at 119, senior Jeff Iuliano at 140, senior David Garelick at 145 and sophomore Mark Pace at 130. Murphy and Iuliano each recorded two pins, Garelick recorded one pin and one major decision and Pace recorded one pin and one decision. Also getting pins for the Warriors were junior Carter Mode at 189, sophomore Zach Smerlas at 285, and in his first year in wrestling, Connaughton got his first win via pin at 215 in the first period versus his Newton South opponent.
The Warriors faced Acton-Boxborough in DCL action on Tuesday and will be at the Wakefield Tournament Saturday before hosting Concord-Carlisle on Tuesday the 23rd at home with a 5:30 match start.